Batman and Robin

Joke Poo: Gandalf and Frodo

Gandalf says to Frodo,

“Great Elephants, Frodo! Gollum’s got a Costco membership!”

Frodo’s response:

“Precious Samples, Gandalf!?”

Alright, let’s get to work analyzing this Bat-joke!

Joke Dissection:

• Setup: Batman, in a moment of heightened emotion (“Great Scott!”) informs Robin of Catwoman’s pregnancy.
• Punchline: Robin responds with a pun using “Holey,” playing off “Holy” (a common exclamation in the Batman universe) and implying failed contraception (“rubbers”).
• Humor Source: The humor comes from the unexpected pregnancy of Catwoman, juxtaposed with the typically righteous (and often naive) nature of Batman and Robin, coupled with the suggestive implication that even superheroes aren’t immune to contraceptive failures. It’s the clash of superhero tropes with adult reality.

Key Elements:

• Batman: Symbol of justice, planning, and (usually) careful execution.
• Robin: The youthful, often naive sidekick who relies on Batman’s guidance.
• Catwoman: A morally ambiguous character, a thief with a complex relationship with Batman.
• Pregnancy: A life-altering event with real-world implications.
• “Holey”: A pun highlighting the failure of a preventative measure.

Comedic Enrichment & New Humor:

Let’s use the “Catwoman’s pregnant” angle and the “Holey rubbers” punchline as inspiration.

New Joke:

Batman rushes into the Batcave, sweat dripping down his cowl. “Alfred!” he exclaims, “I need your help. Quickly! Catwoman’s craving pickled herring and listening to ABBA. I think… I think she’s using the maternity cave!”

Alfred, calmly polishing a Batarang, replies, “Master Bruce, must I remind you of the Bat-approved method of tracking down villainous pregnancies? It’s the… Bat-ernity test.”

Witty Observation/Amusing “Did You Know”:

Did you know that in the original draft of the Batman comics, Catwoman’s pregnancy was going to lead to a “Bat-by shower” thrown by Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn? However, the idea was scrapped after someone pointed out the awkwardness of celebrating a child whose potential father was the very man trying to put them in Arkham Asylum one day. (Now that’s a villain origin story waiting to happen!)

Explanation:

• New Joke: Plays on the over-the-top aspects of Batman and his equipment. The “maternity cave” is absurd, and Alfred’s pun is a dry, understated comedic response. It’s humorous because it highlights the outlandish nature of the Batman universe while subtly referencing the original joke’s setup.
• Witty Observation: Takes the concept of Catwoman’s pregnancy and imagines what a celebratory event might look like, highlighting the inherent conflicts and bizarre relationships within the Batman rogue’s gallery.